Director, Corporate Communications 

Responsible for generating earned media enhancing and sustaining the profile of Accor and the Group’s brands in North & Central America. Brings together multi-disciplinary teams, at both the hub and hotel level, as well as external partners including agencies and vendors, to develop, execute and manage goal-oriented PR & Communications plans, programs and campaigns. 

What is in it for you:

• Employee Discount Travel Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Extended Healthcare Plan Coverage
• Opportunity to develop your talent and grow with the Company across the world!
• Ability to make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility activities, like Planet 21

What you will be doing:

• Conduct and maintain brand awareness research and benchmarking, analyzing results to inform and evolve corporate communications strategy. 
• Articulate Accor’s strategic communications positioning specific to the North & Central America market, maintaining a living master key messaging document to ensure cohesive and consistent communications to all stakeholders. 
• Develop a matrix or editorial calendar mapping key communications themes and topics against strategic positioning and objectives. 
• Research, develop and maintain messaging around key trends impacting the industry, to ensure that Accor North & Central America executives are informed and can speak to major market influences in interviews, speeches, panels, etc.
• Lead targeted national media engagement in the North & Central American market, including proactive pitching and the management of media leads, including requests for commentary, quotes and interviews. 
• Maintain relationships with targeted top tier media, securing impactful high-reach press coverage for Accor, ALL – Accor Live Limitless, and the Group’s brands, regularly monitoring for new contacts and opportunities, and demonstrating significant knowledge of what each writer is covering and how Accor can influence upcoming editorial. 
• Craft media strategies through corporate story-telling to engage with targeted media and secure top-tier press. 
• Draft PR materials, including press releases, pitches, internal and external communiques. 
• Working in tandem with the North & Central America PR agencies, responsible for generating key North American press for all major global Accor news and announcements. 
• Project manage complex PR initiatives, including proprietary events, deskside tours, partnership launches, and strategic campaigns, from ideation and planning, to execution and tracking of measurable results. 
• Deploy thought leadership strategy, leveraging Accor global and regional executives to build brand awareness and credibility, through tactics including: media training and press interviews (including broadcast and podcast), creation and placement of custom bylined content, and aggressive expansion of speaking engagements.
• Support Accor global and regional executives with the development of targeted key messaging in preparation for major interviews, speaking engagements and events. 
• Manage Accor’s PR activation at industry events, including corresponding press and social strategy, setting up and attending executive interviews, arranging for media attendance at Group activities, and providing strategic advisement on overall brand presence at event. 
• Optimize Accor corporate social media, activating regional channels and feeding Accor North & Central America content to be featured on global accounts. 
• Assist in the activation of Accor North & Central America executives’ personal social media accounts via the creation of custom bylined content, optimization of the Sociabble Amplify employee advocacy tool, and the regular sharing of tips and best practices. 
• Launch an enhanced external awards strategy, proactively pursuing awards which position Accor, the Group’s brands, hotels and executives as influential leaders in the industry.
• Routinely work with corporate PR and marketing teams, brands and properties, as it relates to Accor North & Central America PR activities, events and campaigns. 
• Assist in the management of PR agencies, plans and budgets. 
• Serve as key member of the communications team for issues and crisis management. 
• Provide advisement and consultation on CSR-specific topics, including communications surrounding sustainability and diversity, equity & inclusion. 
• Demonstrate positive ROI on PR activities and programs, including press monitoring, reporting and analysis, along with management of corresponding tools, i.e. Cision, Burrelles and TVEyes.

Your experience and skills include:

• Minimum of eight to ten years of experience in corporate communications 
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills 
• Existing relationships and experience working directly with top-tier national media, ideally with a focus on high-profile business press 
• Demonstrated project management skills; experience in strategic planning for and tactical execution of a multi-faceted corporate communications program
• Self-motivated energetic team player with superior leadership and decision-making skills  
• Both highly organized and flexible, capable of handling multiple projects and tight deadlines effectively 
• Firm understanding of communications and marketing disciplines – media relations, loyalty, digital, social, partnerships, content, etc. – and how they can be leveraged in support of corporate communications goals
• Proven experience in meeting the needs of various constituents (corporate, brand, hotel, owner, customer, media)
• Analytical thinker, with the ability to synthesize complex information, trends and data, and translate into valuable, tangible insights 
• Experience in the development of key messaging and strategic positioning documents 
• Experience working closely with c-level executives 
• Experience managing agency(ies)
• Degree from an accredited university in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field 
• Excellent command of the English language is a must and the ability to speak another language used within North America is desirable
• The following would be considered assets: prior experience on the communications team for a publicly held company; expertise in crisis management and communications 

Note:  Must already be legally entitled to work in Canada or the US to be considered for this position

Your team & working environment:

• Reporting to the Vice President, PR & Communications
• Option to be based in the Toronto, Canada hub headquarters or home-office based in an approved location in the US or Canada 

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

By joining Accor, every chapter of your story is yours to write and together we can imagine tomorrow's hospitality. Discover the life that awaits you at Accor, visit  https://careers.accor.com/

Why work for Accor?

We are far more than a worldwide leader. We welcome you as you are and you can find a job and brand that matches your personality. We support you to grow and learn every day, making sure that work brings purpose to your life, so that during your journey with us, you can continue to explore Accor’s limitless possibilities.

Do what you love, care for the world, dare to challenge the status quo! #BELIMITLESS